WKU News

The Celebration honors the late Dr. Jim Wayne Miller and WKU’s first Poet Laureate, the late Professor Mary Ellen Miller.

The WKU English Department will celebrate the 10 finalists of the 30th annual Mary Ellen and Jim Wayne Miller Celebration of Writing on Thursday, November 19th, 2026, from 6-8 pm at the Western Kentucky University Alumni Center, Robertson-Feix Grand Ballroom.

The evening will begin with a cocktail reception and buffet followed by announcement of the contest winners and a reading by guest judge and Professor Emeritus, Joe Survant—the 2002-2004 Kentucky Poet Laureate, and author of The Stone, the latest in his long list of publications.

The 10 undergraduate finalists were chosen by a panel of WKU English professors. The finalists will participate in a workshop with Joe Survant. The finalists, in alphabetical order, are:

Avery Hunt, Jiwoo Kim, Jona Mansfield, Jojo Oldham, Avery Overshiner, Sophia Paganelli, Jackie Smith, Parker Stallings, Lily Suspinski, and Kate Richardson.

Join us! Whether you're a writer, poetry enthusiast, student, or simply appreciate the power of words, we invite you to be part of this milestone celebration!

Gifts in support of the annual celebration may be made through the WKU Foundation, 292 Alumni Ave, Bowling Green, KY 42101, or by visiting http://alumni.wku.edu/millerwritingfund

If you would like to know more about the events happening in the WKU English department, please reference the WKU English Department website and our Living Calendar through Google Slides found here: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1ckNdstSD7n4FLcR5-3dnkU2IltsGIBcMjQbYBJ3L7Zs/edit?usp=sharing

Good luck to all the finalists! We hope to see you there!